Title: Accomplice
Author: Eireann Corrigan
Publisher: Scholastic
Pub. Date: 8.1.2010
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Keywords: Lies, Hoax, Kidnapping, Friendship, Disappearance
Pages: 296
Description (from GoodReads):
They've gotten good grades - but that's not good enough. They've spent hours on community service - but that's not good enough. Finn and Chloe's advisor says that colleges have enough kids with good grades and perfect attendance, so Chloe decides they'll have to attract attention another way. She and Finn will stage Chloe's disappearance, and then, when CNN is on their doorstep and the nation is riveted, Finn will find and save her. It seems like the perfect plan - until things start to go wrong. Very wrong.
I find it almost scary that I identify with Eireann Corrigan's ACCOMPLICE. I understand Chloe and Finn's fear that, no matter how hard they work, they still won't be good enough for their dream colleges. I think most prospective college students stress about that. But most kids, myself included, would not go to the extremes the main characters do. Still, I found myself thinking 'what if?'
Having only read Corrigan's poetry memoir previous to ACCOMPLICE, I had no idea what to expect from the novel. The story progressed slowly, which some may dislike, but, for me, it was positive characteristic that further illustrated the narrator's POV. The narrator, Finn, is the half of the duo that must lie to her friends and family about Chloe's whereabouts and I can only imagine that, while Chloe was in hiding, time would have seemed to move at a glacial pace.
While the plot of this novel is, for the most part, straight forward, Corrigan did incorporate a few twists that kept me interested. I would have been disappointed if the summary had revealed the entire plot.
Overall, ACCOMPLICE is an interesting novel that may appeal to fans of psychological thrillers minus the thrill aspect. I can't really say I'd describe this novel as exciting...
Grade: B
Review Copy Provided by Star Book Tours
+JMJ+
ReplyDeleteI used to be a high school teacher and totally understand the stress perfectly smart and well-rounded teenagers suddenly feel when they think they might not be good enough to get into the university of their choice. While none of my students have been desperate enough to do anything remotely like Chloe and Finn's plan (LOL!), I could totally believe the premise of this novel. But I think that if I were to write one, it would be something funnier than a Psychological Novel. Still, yes, there is much that is dark about the culture of competing for university slots.
I'm signed up for this book on tour, so I'm glad I chose not to purchase it after reading your review. I can't wait to read it to see what I think of it. Great review :)
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